half hour

noun

1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly adverb or adjective

Examples of half hour in a Sentence

Trains depart every half hour. I waited a half hour in line.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Within a half hour of the press conference ending, ABC revealed that Kimmel is coming back to the airwaves. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025 During the marathon, the singer logged an impressive time of under three-and-a-half hours, besting more than 20,000 other runners. Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025 Flights are scheduled to take off from Long Beach and John Wayne airports every half hour or so on each day of the event, and will land in the parking lot between Huntington Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Claire Wang, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 Perhaps the biggest change, though, is that the average length of a game has been shortened by more than a half hour. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for half hour

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of half hour was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20hour. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

half hour

noun
1
: thirty minutes
2
: the middle point of an hour
half-hourly
ˈhaf-ˈau̇(ə)r-lē
ˈhȧf-
adverb or adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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